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MANILA - A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday called for an investigation and the filing of charges against "big-time" personalities in the government allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling. Magsasaka Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should look into the smuggling problem, particularly the involvement of officials from the Bureau of Plant Industry, as if they are being protected. "We will continue collecting evidence and witnesses that will expose the corruption in the Bureau of Plant Industry that we believe is the root cause of smuggling in the country," Cabatbat said. Cabatbat has already filed a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry on the implementation status of border inspection and food safety regulations, in the state of border inspection facilities in the country. The resolution also seeks to look at the government's capacity to curb the smuggling of imported vegetables and other agricultural commoditi ....

Vicente Sotto , Federico Laciste Jr , William Dar , Bureau Of Plant Industry , Department Of Agriculture , Duringa Senate , Argel Cabatbat , Plant Industry , Secretary Federico Laciste , President Vicente Sotto , Manilaa Party List Lawmaker On Wednesday Called For An Investigation And The Filing Of Charges Against Quot Big Time Personalities In Government Allegedly Involved Agricultural Smuggling Magsasaka Rep Argel Cabatbat Said Department Agriculture Da Should Look Into Problem , Articularly The Involvement Of Officials From Bureau Plant Industry , S If They Are Being Protected Quot We Will Continue Collecting Evidence And Witnesses That Expose The Corruption In Bureau Of Plant Industry Believe Is Root Cause Smuggling Country , Uot Cabatbat Said Has Already Fileda Resolution Calling Fora Congressional Inquiry On The Implementation Status Of Border Inspection And Food Safety Regulations , N The State Of Border Inspection Facilities In Country Resolution Also Seeks To Look At Government 39s Capacity Curb Smuggling Imported Vegetables And Other Agricultural Commodities Quot Importation Policies Ineffective Regulations Enable Proliferation Activities That Directly Threaten Income Filipino Vegetable Farmers Endangers Health Safety Consumers , Uot He Said It Is Imperative For Congress To Prevent Quot Economic Sabotage , Pecifically Large Scale Agricultural Smuggling , Nd Exercise Its Oversight Function In Ensuring The Effective Implementation Of Food Safety And Importation Related Laws To Protect Livelihood Local Farmers , Nsure Food Safety For The Consumers , Nd Accelerate Economic Recovery Through Improved Tariff Revenue Collections Duringa Senate Hearing On Monday , A Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr Confirmed That Several High Profile Personalities Have Called Him To Accommodate Technical Smuggling Is Seen Feasible As Smugglers Subject Themselves Legal Procedures Of Acquiring Import Permit Or Accreditation , Ut With The Misuse Or Misdeclaration Of Data And Products Quot May Mga Tumatawag Po Kasi Sa Akin Noon , Ga Matatas Na Tao , Ero Ang Ginawa Ko Po Dun , I Ko Na Po Inaksyunan , Inuloy Pa Rin Namin Yung Paghuli ,